Intellectual Property

Our intellectual property lawyers come from a variety of practice areas within the firm who together serve a broad spectrum of clients in the information, communications and entertainment industries.

We advise clients on several areas within intellectual property law, including trade-marks, sound marks, patents, copyright and entertainment.

Trade-Marks

• Preparation of trade-mark and sound mark applications
• Prosecuting applications to registration
• Trade-mark and sound mark litigation
• Trade-mark and sound mark searches nationally and internationally

Our leading edge, in-house computerized trade-mark search facilities permit us to identify, without delay, whether a proposed trade-mark already exists in both Canada and the United States.

We can conduct manual searches in Canada (three to four days or expedited to 48 hours), trade-mark availability searches in the U.S., preparation and filing of trade-mark applications in the U.S., searches and file applications in virtually any country outside of North America through agents, licensing of trade-marks and other intellectual property, and action on behalf of franchisors and franchisees.

Patents & Industrial Designs 

• Patent and industrial design searches in the U.S. & Canada
• Advice on the prospect of obtaining a patent of an invention
• Possible infringement of patents and industrial designs 
• Patent and industrial design rights
• Preparation of documentation relating to commercial transactions involving patents and industrial designs
• Litigation to enforce patent and industrial design rights

Copyright

• Advice on the Canadian Copyright Act and international copyright convention
• Infringement litigation for individual copyright holders and collectives
• Draft and review licence arrangements
• Registering and protection of copyrights for merchandisers

Entertainment

• Negotiation of recording agreements, publishing agreements and artist management contracts
• Advice on regulatory applications
• Advice on production and acquisition of programming the purchase and sale of stations
• Personnel concerns
• Libel suits
• Finance structuring assistance
• Preparation and review of the necessary production and distribution contracts

Miscellaneous

• Advice on the legal risks inherent in innovative marketing campaigns
• Structuring and administration of promotional contests for legislative compliance